In 2026, the global talent shortage remains a critical challenge, with 72% of employers worldwide reporting difficulty filling roles. While this represents a modest improvement from the previous year, scarcity continues to impact nearly all sectors, particularly in Information Technology and Healthcare. Employers are increasingly prioritizing AI-related skills and internal development to navigate these gaps, with a significant focus on upskilling current staff to meet evolving technical demands.
Key Findings
- Regional Variations: Talent scarcity is most acute in Slovakia (87%), Greece (84%), and Japan (84%), while employers in China (48%) report the least difficulty.
- In-Demand Skills: The most difficult hard skills to find are AI Model & Application Development and AI Literacy. The most valued soft skill is Communication, Collaboration, & Teamwork.
- Impact by Industry: Globally, the Information sector (75%) and Hospitality (74%) face the highest levels of scarcity.
- Strategic Responses: The primary action taken by employers to overcome scarcity is upskilling and reskilling their current workforce (27% globally; 30% in APME).
- Company Size: Large organizations are struggling the most; businesses with 5,000+ employees report the highest level of difficulty at 74%.
